This paper investigates the problem of flood-induced scour on masonry arch bridges through the analysis of a real case study, Rubbianello Bridge. This is a multi-span masonry arch bridge located in Central Italy, which suffered the collapse of two of the seven spans due to foundation scour during a severe flood in December 2013. The study has a twofold aim: to evaluate with a numerical model the level of scour which led to the bridge failure in 2013 and the corresponding collapse mechanism, and to assess the sensitivity of the bridge's modal properties (vibration frequencies and mode shapes) to different levels of scour. An accurate nonlinear three-dimensional model of the bridge is developed, whose elastic properties are calibrated to match the results of dynamic identification tests performed via Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) on the remaining portion of the bridge. A numerical simulation of the effects of the scour hole progression is also performed on the full bridge, according to recently proposed techniques. The study results provide useful insights on both the cause of collapse of the bridge and the suitability of OMA for bridge scour monitoring.

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This paper describes three novel displacement-based formulations for the analysis of composite beams with a flexible connection which is capable of deforming along the longitudinal axis of the member as well as vertically, i.e. transverse to the interface connection. For completeness, the analytical model which forms the basis of the proposed modelling technique is presented in both its weak and strong forms. The three novel finite element formulations are derived and tested using different structural systems; their nodal freedoms include the vertical and axial displacements as well as the rotations at each element end of both layers. Curvature locking problems are observed to occur for one of these elements and the origin of this behaviour is demonstrated analytically. Two applications are then proposed adopting a bi-linear constitutive relationship for the vertical interface connection to, reflect the more realistic case in which, already in the linear-elastic range of the materials forming the cross-section and of the longitudinal interface connection, two vertical connection stiffnesses are required, i.e. one to model the event of separation between the layers and one when one bears against the other one. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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This paper deals with the seismic protection of building frames by means of external dissipative systems. Dampers and external framing system can be arranged in several configurations, involving different kinematic behaviours and seismic performances. This study analyses a recently-developed solution called "dissipative tower", which exploits the rocking motion of a steel braced frame, hinged at the foundation level, for activating the dampers. This system aims at controlling both the global response and the local storey deformation of the frame, by using a reduced number of viscous dampers. A state space formulation of the dynamic problem is presented in general terms, together with the solution of the seismic problem via the modal decomposition method. A parametric study is carried out to evaluate the influence of the added damping and of the braced frame stiffness on the modal properties and seismic response of a benchmark reinforced concrete frame retrofitted with the external dissipative towers. It is shown that the addition of the towers yields a regularization and reduction of the drift demand along the building height, but it may induce significant changes, not always beneficial, in the distribution of internal actions of the frame and in the absolute storey accelerations.